Circuit-changer.



PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

C. C. CADDEN.

C CIRCUIT CHANGER.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 15. 190s.

' N0 MODEL.

lINTTnn STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. CADDEN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAMS ABBOTT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CIRCUIT-CHANGER..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,23*?, dated May 10, 1904.

Application led June 15, 1903. Serial No. 161,596. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, CnAnLns C. CADDnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Circuit-Changers, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and eX- act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication.

My invention relates to circuit changing' or switching mechanism, and is especially useful in operators keys and telephone switch-hooks.

In practicing my invention I employ strip metal in combination with an actuating plug or element that serves to positively operate the strip metal in one direction, the strip metal by reason of its resiliency and the permissiveness of the actuating element restoring the said element and the instrumentality carrying the same when relieved of operating influence. In order that the strip metal may most effectively be capable of these functions and in order that the entire circuit-changing mechanism may be most conveniently disposed, I have provided a novel modification in the shape of the strip metal. Hitherto the strip metal has been curved or bent throughout a portion of its length to have suchk portion occupy a plane inclined with respect to the length only of the balance of the strip metal. With this form of strip metal there is employed a reciprocating plunger acting longitudinally thereof or a wedging device operating in a plane transverse to the strip metal. In the device of my invention the actuating plug or element operates in a plane substantially longitudinal and parallel with the strip metal, the strip metal being made to cooperate therewith by-being inclined to the operating plane of the actuating' element where the said element engages the strip metal, said strip metal in the preferred construction being bent transversely and longitudinally of its length. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the strip metal is slitted partially across the same, so that rone part may be more readily deflected or inclined with respect to that remaining.

In the adaptation of the invention to an operators key a pivoted key-lever is desirably interposed between a pair of strip Inetal springs constructed as specilied and which serve to maintain said lever in a central position when not being operated.

In embodying the invention in a telephone switch-hook the strip metal of the circuitchanger is arranged longitudinally of the switch-hook, while a wedging-button, preferably of insulating' material, is carried below the switch-hook to engage the deflected strip metal and shift the position thereof through the agency of the receiver when upon the switch-hook.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure lis a side elevation of an operators key constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a front View thereof. Fig. 3 is an end view of a portion of the structure. Fig. dis a side elevation of a receiver-switch embodying the invention. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 1i. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line G 6 of Fig. Lt, circuit connections being also illustrated.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the diiierent ligures.

The structures shown in Figs. 1, Q, and 3 are operators circuit-change keys and obviously are adaptable for use both as ringing and listening keys, the instrument shown being a combined ringing and listening key. In order to cause the keys to occupy very small space without impairing the eliiciency of their operation, the strip metal is preferably disposed longitudinally of the corresponding actuating-lever 7), while in order to enable the lever to have the proper coperation with the strip metal to displace the same each metal strip is lient at `c to lie in a plane that is inclined with respect to the plane of operation of the lever, each bent portion of the strip metal and the balance thereof occupying planes that converge at or near one longitudinal edge of the unbent portion and are diverged at the other longitudinal edge of the latter portion. This inclination of the strip metal is preferably double-that is, the strip metal has not only a portion thereof inclined with reference to the plane of its side, but also with reference to its edge, so that the key will operate as it is rotated to most effectively thrust said strip metal out of its normal plane. I do not wish to be limited, however, to both inclinations. The metal strips are preferably transversely slit at Z near their free ends, so that the free ends may be readily bent into the desired position. Each key or switch lever desirably has four springs in cooperative association therewith when the invention is embodied in an operators key, and in a combined ringing and listening key the said lever is preferably designed to move farther in one direction than the other, so that when it is moved to its farthest extent it will have locking engagement with the free ends of the springs c a, that engage the terminals e c of the operators telephone outfit, the key-lever being adapted to retain this position until it is forced away therefrom by the operator. The companion pair of springs c c are only wedged apart as long as the operator holds the key/in a ringing position engaging said spring with the ringing-contacts ff, the keylever being immediately restored by the ringing-circuit springs when released. In a combined listening and ringing key it is desirable to have the key-lever constructed to maintain the operators telephone in circuit after the operator has removed her hand from the lever. To this end the body of the lever b, that carries the pivot, is provided with two shoulders g and It, the shoulder g being on a lower plane than the shoulder L, whereby the said shoulder g permits the key-lever to be swung higher than it is permitted by shoulder i to accomplish the purpose desired, (the capplate /L/ acting as a motion-limiting means,) it being apparent that in the construction shown the key-lever will be locked when `thrown in one position; but in order to be maintained in the other position it will have to be held by the hand of the operator.` In each operators key the knob or spreader c' is interposed between the free ends of the keysprings, there being two free end portions upon each side of the knob. I do not wish to be limited, however, to keys possessing this characteristic.

In embodying the invention in a receiverswitch the hook when pivoted at its rear end is caused to carry a knob or spreader c' below the same. IVhere the switch-hook is to control one well-known substation-circuit arrangement, (shown in Fig. 6, where there is illustrated a well-known primary circuit containing a transmitter 7s, battery Z, &c., a secondary circuit including the main line and receiver m, and a bridge conductor containing the generator n and the bell 0,) two long springs p Q 'are provided that are substantially similar to the springs a a. The resiliency of the springs p q is such that when the receiver m is removed the switch-lever will be elevated by the elevation of the spreader. The bent spring portions form a trough-like receptacle for the spreader. In the particular substation-circuit illustrated the long spring j) constitutes one line-terminal, the bifurcated spring fr the remaining line-terminal and a local transmitter-circuit terminal, the remaining long spring q the remaining transmitter-circuit terminal, and the spring s a terminal of the bridge conductor that contains the signalbell 0 and the generator n. I do not wish to be limited to the particular substation-circuit shown as being controlled by the receiver switching mechanism of my invention.

It is obvious that changes may readily be made in the embodiments of my invention herein shown without departing' from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the precise disclosures herein illustrated; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In acircuit-changer the combination with a rotating lever having a spreader, of stripmetal springs arranged longitudinally of the switch-lever and bent at their free ends transversely and longitudinally with respect to their length, said springs serving to coperate with said spreader, a shoulder permitting the rotation of said lever in one direction to a point whereby it may be locked in its rotated position, and a shoulder for preventing said lever from being locked in an oppositely-rotated position, substantially as described.

2. In a circuit-changer,the combination with a rotating lever having a spreader, of strip metal arranged longitudinally of the switchlever and bent at their free ends transversely and longitudinally with respect to their length, said strips serving to cooperate with said spreader, shoulders on said lever located in displaced planes, and means for engaging said shoulders whereby the levers may be rotated farther in one direction than the other to have the same locked in one position and to prevent it from being locked in the alternative position, substantially as described.

3. In a circuit-changer, the combination with the pivoted lever thereof having a spreader, of strip metal forming part of the circuit-changer and bent where it has to be engaged by the spreader both transversely and longitudinally of its length, substantially as described.

4. In a eircuit-changer,tlie combination with the pivoted lever thereof having a spreader, of strip metal forming a part of the circuitchanger arranged longitudinally of the lever and bent where it has to be engaged by the lever longitudinally and transversely of its length, substantially as described.

5. In a circuit-changer, the combination with an operating-lever carrying a spreader, of cir- IOO IIO

cuit-changing strip inetal bent Where it is engaged by the spreader transversely and longitudinally of its length, substantially as described.

6. In a circuit-changer, the combination with an operating-lever carrying a spreader, of two circuit-changing springs anchored each at one end and bent at their i'ree ends longitudinally and transversely of their length, substantially as described.

7. In a circuit-changer, the combination with a lever having a spreader, of strip metal forining a part of the circuit-changer and bent longitudinally of its length and transversely slit and bent transversely of said strip Where slit, substantially as described.

8. In a circuit-changer, the combination with a lever having a spreader, oi' strip metal form'- ing part of the circuit-changer and` transversely slit and bent transversely of the strip Where slit, substantially as described.

9. Ina circnitchanger,the combination With a lever having a spreader, of metal strips forining part of the circuit-changer, said strips having transverse slits and transversely bent Where slit, substantially as described.

l0. In a circuit changer, the combination with a lever having a spreader, of strip metal forming part of the circuit-changer, being transversely bent Where it has to be engaged by the spreader, substantially as described.

11. In a circuit changer, the combination with a lever having a spreader, of metal strips forming part oi' the circuit-changer, and being transversely bent where they have to -be engaged by the spreac'ler, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 2d day of May, A. fl). 1903.

CHARLES C. GADDEN.

Witnesses:

FRANcEs F. MILLS, F. H. LINCOLN. 

